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IN MEMORIAM. 



Rev. Harvey S. W^^ney, 



C'*T^-,, 



CompJimeiitH of 

J. FLETCHER WILLIAMS, 

Saint Paul, Minn. 

1S52. Graduate of the Scieutiflc Department, Ohio Wesleyan University. 

1863 r. Member of the .St. Paul Board of Education. 

186T-8t). Secretary and Librarian of Minm'sota Historical Society. 

1868-84. Corresponding Secretary of Minnesota Editorial Association. 

1869. Elected Corresponding Member of Pennsylvania Historical Society. 
1870 " " " Virginia Historical Society. 

1870. " Life Member and Director of Saint Paul Academy of Natural Sciences. 
1871-86. Secretary of the Ramsey County Pioneer Association 

1871. Appointed U. S Centennial Commissioner from Minnesota. 

1872. Elected Corresponding Member of New England Historic Genealogical Society. 

1873. " " " Rhode Island Historical Society. 
1873. " " " Maine Historical Society. 

1875 86. Corresponding Secretary of Old Settlers' Association of Minnesota. 

1876. Elected Honorary Member of Montana Historical Society. 
1878. " Corresponding Member of Buffalo Historical Society. 

1880. " " " Royal Historical Society, of London, England. 

1881. " " " Chicago Historical Society. 

1881. " " " Numismatic and Antiquarian Society, Phila. 

1882. " " " American Antiquarian Society. 
1883-86. " Secretary and Treasurer Minnesota State Forestry Association. 

1884. " Memberof American Historical Association. 

1885. " Corresponding Member of Georgia Historical Society. 

1885. " " " Wisconsin Historical Society. 

1886. " Member of Cincinnati Club, Minneapolis. 
Member of "Old Woodward Club," Cincinnati, O. 

Past Grand Master and P. G. Representative, I. O. O. F. 



A TRIRTL7TFC 



TO T^HK JVLBA/IORY 



Rev.HarveyShippWidney, 



Late Principal of the Excelsior Academy, Mi 



Containing a Memoir, the Addresses at his Funeral, 
and other eltlogies. 



Printer! for Distrilnition amonj^ liis friends. 
St. P.\ri., 1888. 



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NOTK. 

Immediately after the lamented death of Prof. Widnev, 
a suitable memorial volume, like the following, in whieh 
to eommemorate his virtues and worth, was projeeted In- 
some of his friends, but nothing was done at the time, 
sinee no one interested in the work had leisure to under- 
take its preparation. At the urgent request of friends, 
.-inxious to see the memorial c()m])leted, I have eonsented 
to undertake it, though hard pressed by professional 
duties, and this feeble and imi)erfeet tribute to our dear 
friend, is now offered by his affeetionate kinsman 



St. Paul, April, 1888. 



MEMOIR 



The Widxey Family, of which the subject of 
this sketch was an honored member, descended from 
a Colonel Widnej', a native of Holland, who was 
an officer in the army with which William III, 
the Prince of Orange, landed in England, in 1688, 
and which, the year following, invaded Ireland 
under the Duke of Schomberg. At the conclusion 
of the w^ar in the latter country, the crown gave 
to Col. Widney, in reward for his military services, 
a valuable grant of land in the County of Tyrone, 
*w^hich estate remained in possession of his descend- 
ants for over one hundred years. In 1784, three 
brothers and three sisters of one of the Widney 
families came to America, and settled in Pennsjd- 
vania. From these six persons, all the Widney s in 
the United States, now quite a numerous family, 
and embracing many persons of ability and eminence, 
have sprung. 

Samuel WilHams Widney, the father of Harvey S., 
was the great grandson of one of these settlers. 
He was born Nov. 19, 1820, at Concord, Pa., and 
in 1837, emigrated to DeKalb Co., Ind., where some 
others of the family had already been pioneer 
settlers. When only 21 years of age, he was licensed 
as a preacher, in the Methodist Protestant Church, 



and entered into the regular work of the ministry 
at the age of 28. In 1844, he was married to 
Miss Matilda Jane Thompson. He was an itinerant 
preacher more or less of the time for some 3^ears ; 
an earnest, devoted Christian, and a man of more 
than ordinary ability and culture. On March 20, 
1865, he enlisted in the 30th Indiana Volunteers, 
and just one month later (at the age of 44 ^-ears) 
died of disease in Tennessee. His widow still resides 
at St. Jo. station, Indiana. Seven children were 
born to them, of whom 

Hakvey Shipp Widney 

was the third. He was born in Clinton Co., Ind., 
March 11, 1849, and received such education as 
was attainable in the country schools at that time, 
and subsequenth' at Auburn, Ind., to which his 
parents had removed. His uncle. Rev. A. H. Widney, 
says, "His early years developed his burning thirst 
for knowledge. His father's library was read and 
re-read, as well as such other books as came into 
his hands." Inheriting from his father, and indeed 
from a long line of ancestors, a disposition towards 
piety, he became an earnest member of the Church 
when not over twelve years of age. His father 
died when he was just sixteen years old, and to a 
considerable extent, from that time on, Harvc}' was 
thrown on his own resources. He taught school 
in December, 1865, when he was only sixteen years 
of aije, and continued in this calling; with marked 



5 

success for two years. Having accumulated some 
money by that means, and feeling the need of better 
education, he entered Adrian College, at Adrian, 
Michigan, in September, 1867, and began a regular 
four years' course. He soon became a universal 
favorite at college. His thirst for learning, his 
brightness, his exemplary conduct, and his frank 
and amiable manners, won him warm friends among 
the faculty and students. While at home during 
vacation, in Januar^^ 1869, young Widney injured 
his foot seriously, as a result of which he suffered 
severely for some months, and came near losing 
his life by gangrene. During this period he was 
much oppressed by despondency and forebodings, 
but his journal, kept at this time, evinces, by lepeated 
expressions, his full and unalterable trust in the Lord. 
He recovered sufficienth', however, to commence 
teaching again, though walking with crutches, and 
carried on a school until the commencement of the 
spring term of the next college year (1870), when 
he resumed his course at college, where he was 
graduated with high honors in 1872, in both the 
Classical and Scientific courses. 

After his graduation he resumed teaching at 
Dundee, Michigan, and on June 28, 1873, was 
united in marriage to Miss Ella Underwood, 
daughter of Thomas and Mary (Comstock) Under- 
wood, of Adrian, Mich., a noble and loving woman, 
who made his home blest for over fourteen happy 
vears. Mr. Widnev had long cherished the intention 



G 

of engaging in the ministr\% and had studied for that 
])rofession more or less, for several years past. He 
was an active Church worker, and leader of meetings, 
and had alreadv been licensed to preach, and gave 
evidence that he was " a workman who need not 
to be ashamed." On September 6, 1873, he was 
regularlv ordained as a clergyman b}- the North 
Indiana Conference of the Methodist Protestant 
Church, and entered at once into the ministerial 
work. His first appointment was at the East 
Bureau church, in Bureau Co., 111., nnd the following 
vear (1874), he was appointed to VermilHon circuit, 
which he served one year. In 1875, he w-as assigned 
to the Sheridan station, where he remained one 
vear. In 1876, he was called as pastor of the 
church at Ohio, 111., where he remained doing a 
successful work, three years. He was then appointed 
to the church at Beloit, Wis., where he remained 
one year. This was one of the most pleasant and 
fruitful of his entire ministry. The compensation 
received b}- Bro. Widney during these years of hard 
and faithftd labor, was sometimes ver\^ small, and 
he and his little family were subjected to actual 
straits, frequently. But he had entered that holy 
calling, not for money, but for souls, and he had 
these for his reward. Patiently, hopefully, and 
conscientiously he labored on, trusting that the seed 
he was sowing, amid fervent prayers, and perhaps 
tears often, would s])ring u]) in due time with 



that fruit that would be as stars in his heavenly 
crown. 

In 1880, he was called to the principalship of 
Gittings Seminary, at La Harpe, 111., where he did 
noble work for six years, excepting one year during 
which he was principal of the public schools at La 
Harpe. During his residence at that place he also 
acted as pastor of the Morris chapel of the Meth- 
odist Protestant church, the Terre Haute Free Will 
Baptist Church and the La Harpe Congregational 
church, in all of which, the latter especially, his 
ministry bore gratifying fruits, and he made many 
warm friends. 

During his term at La Harpe, Prof. Widne\' led a 
busy and useful life. Teaching faithfully during the 
\veek, studying diligenth' to prepare for his classes, 
holding meetings in the evening, preaching Sundays, 
leading class meetings and prayer meetings, teach- 
ing Sunday-school classes, organizing and superin- 
tending a young people's societ\' called the "Yoke 
Fellows." and other similar labors, into which he 
threw himself with all the ardor of his warm and 
earnest nature. Prof. Widney quite wore out his 
strength and impaired his health. But the work 
that he did, and the wonderful influence that he 
exerted on all with whom he came into contact 
during this period, can never be forgotten by the 
people, especially the young people, of La Harpe. 
Not until all things are revealed in the life to come, 
will we know the complete fruits of Harvey S. 



Widne_v's self-sacrificing toil and devotion to duty 
at La Harpe, as well as other places in which he 
labored, and where his name is revered to-day, in 
nian\' a Christian household. 

It was at this period, when he received a call to 
the principalship at "Excelsior Academy," Excel- 
sior, Minn. Believing that the climate of Minnesota 
was just what he required to recruit his impaired 
health and strength, he accepted the post and 
removed hither at once. The president of the board 
of trustees of Gittings Seminary, wrote thus of his 
estimation of Professor Widnc}- : "He is well qual- 
ified to fill the position of principal of your 
academy in ever}- particular. He is a thorough 
and excellent scholar. He is highly respected and 
loved by his pupils and patrons. He is strong in 
manly influence. He is a good organizer, and has 
a happy faculty of imparting instruction to his 
pupils and winning their love and esteem." All 
classes in La Harpe were filled with regi'ct at his 
leaving them, and many were the testimonials of 
love and honor made to him on his departure for 
his new field. 

Taking up his work at Excelsior in September, 
1886, with the same conscientious zeal and devo- 
tion that he had always shown, he was rewarded 
by the same success, and soon won the warm affec- 
tion of all who came in contact with him. He now 
vmitcd with the Congregational church at Excelsior, 
though, in fact, the non-episcopal branch of the 



Methodist church, to which he had. hitherto been 
attached, are Congregationalists also, and their 
creed almost identical with the latter sect, so that 
this step involved no change in his views. He 
preached at Excelsior, in the various churches thefe, 
and also at Wa^-zata, during the ensuing year, with 
great acceptance. Prof. Widney was a preacher of 
more than average ability and force, and of broad, 
sweet, tolerant views. He attempted no display in 
his sermons, always aiming to present the truths 
of the gospel as simply and forcibly as possible, and 
always did so, to the edification of his hearers and 
their spiritual uplifting. He loved his calling as a 
minister of Christ, and strove to dignify and honor 
it. He was remarkably gifted in prayer, and in his 
conversations with the penitent and inquiring, 
especial!}^ the voung, had a most winning and per- 
suasive manner that drew them cordially to the 
Cross. 

Prof. Widnev had just completed building a com- 
fortable home at Excelsior, and natural^ looked 
forward to a career of happiness and usefulness, 
when, at this period of full ripeness and promise, 
his life was suddenly terminated by an appalling 
calamity. 

A Detailed Account of the Accident. 

On the afternoon of August 25, 1887, Prof. Wid- 
ney was at work on the lawn in front of his house. 
The clock had just struck three. His daughter, 



10 

Hallie. with a young friend aged about eleven years, 
named Lulu Haines ( nee Stoddard, an adopted 
daughter of Mr. and Airs. M. M. Haines, of Excel- 
sior), were sitting on the veranda, overlooking a 
little lake in front of the house, the edge of which 
was about two hundred feet from the latter. They 
noticed that a raft, which had been made and used 
by some boj's to gather pond lilies, had been left by 
the latter at the marge of the water, and proposed 
to Prof. Widney that he should take them out on 
it to gather lilies. He cheerfulh^ acceded, and 
throwing down the rake which he was using, they, 
accompanied by Eddy, his son, tripped down the 
slope to the edge of the lakelet, merrily laughing 
and chatting with each other. It was a warm, 
soft, cloudless day. The August sun shone brightly, 
gleaming on the ripples of the lake, across the dark 
waters of which, the old trees had begun to throw 
their evening shadows, and all nature seemed smil- 
ing. But the Angel of Death was even then hov- 
ering over that bright and happ}^ scene, and in but 
a few moments more it was to be suddenly changed, 
like the shifting of stage scenery, into a tableau of 
sorrow and mourning. 

Arriving at the lake, all four got on the raft, and 
Prof. Widney pushed it, with a pole, through the 
grass and reeds, to the deeper water be3^ond. Just 
as this was reached, the raft was found to be 
coming to pieces. It was large enough to have held 
them all safely had it ke])t together, but it must have 



11 

been insecurely nailed by the boys who made it. It 
is thought that Prof. Widney stood on one of the 
cross pieces nailed underneath it, and that the 
force he used in pushing the raft through the grass, 
loosened it. Finding that the raft was breaking up 
and sinking, Prof. Widney, who was a strong, 
active man, courageous and quick in decision, and 
also a fine swimmer, threw himself into the water, 
calling to the children to remain on the raft and 
he would push them ashore safely. This he could 
easily have done, but the girls had become panic- 
stricken with fright, and screaming loudly for help, 
they threw themselves on Prof. Widney in the 
water, and clasping him about the neck, pushed 
Jiim down. Here all three struggled in the water, 
he trying to disembarass himself of them, and thev 
holding tightly to him and screaming for help. 
Had there been solid footing at the bottom. Prof. 
Widney could have saved himself and them, but 
the bottom was soft, mucky and filled with reeds 
and grass, preventing one from either wading or 
swimming safely. The water (and soft mud) was 
perhaps eight feet deep. 

The screams of the girls for help were heard by 
persons at quite a distance off, and several of them 
hurried to the spot from houses adjoining the lake. 
Mrs. Widney, and her mother, Mrs. Underwood, 
(the latter being foitunately on a visit to her 
daughter), were seated in the house, and did not 
then know that their loved ones had gone out on 



12 

the lake. Hearin*^- the screams, they ran out on 
the front veranda, and at once comprehended the 
danger. Mrs. Underwood endeavored to get a rope 
that was fastened to one of the trees, and Mrs. 
Widney ran to the edge of the lake, as near as she 
could to where her husband and children were 
struggling in the water, but at once saw she could 
give them no aid. She states that at that time. 
Prof. Widney was standing in the water, which 
came to about his breast, and both of his children 
clinging tightly to him. She does not remember to 
have seen Lulu Haines just then, although she had 
heard her voice a moment before. She says, Prof. 
Widney "seemed perfectly calm, a grand look on 
his face ; at the sight of me, he made an effort with 
his arm and called help once." Mrs. Widney then 
told the children to let go of their papa, which 
they did, Eddie managing to catch hold of a plank, 
which held him up safely, and Hallie struggling to 
sustain herself in the water. 

Meantime, two young men, Theo. Bost, Jr., and 
Geo. Gould, w^ho were not far off when the first 
alarm was given, came up. Bost, a brave and 
manlj' follow, at once threw himself into the 
treacherous, marshy spot, and parth^ wading, 
partly swimming, worked tow^ards the trio still 
struggling in the water; but becoming entangled 
in the reeds, would have been drowned himself, had 
not young Gould torn a board from the fence, and 
])ushed it out to him. Mrs. W^idney says that just 



13 

at this moment, having, for an instant onlv, turned 
away from the shore to seek something to help 
them with, she turned and looked again at the 
spot, and saw that her husband had disappeared! 
His hat was floating on the water. 

Young Bost had now managed to reach Hallie 
Widney, and succeded in keeping her up. Rev. J. G. 
Teter, pastor of the Excelsior M. E. chvirch, and 
Mr. Charles Odell, now reached the spot, breath- 
less with running around the lake. They did not 
then know that Prof Widney was under the water. 
On learning this, Mr. Teter at once dispatched a 
messenger to summon every doctor in the town, 
and a second one to bring a boat from another 
lake which was fully a quarter of a mile away. 
T)ver twenty minutes elapsed before the boat was 
brought. "It seemed like an eternity to me," 
writes Mrs. Widney, in a letter describing the 
accident. The boat was launched and Miss Widney 
and Eddie, were rescued and taken ashore. The 
former was nearl}^ gone, but was resuscitated 
without much trouble. The bodies of Prof. Widne}^ 
and Miss Haines were then lifted out, and carried 
to the house. Prof Widney was found standing 
upright, with his feet entangled in the weeds. The 
body seemed so life-like, that Doctors Small and 
Perkins, who had by this time arrived, had strong 
hopes of saving him, and at once began all the 
usual restorative processes known to the medical 
science. Miss Haines was soon found to be past 
all human aid. 



14 

Even^thing was done for Prof. Widney, by the 
ph\'sicians and other friends present, that experience 
has shown to be efficacious in such accidents, but 
without avail. Still the efforts were not relaxed. 
For over an hour the most earnest exertions were 
made to resuscitate Prof. Widney. The sad truth 
then little by little dawned on them, that any 
further hope was useless. All that remained to be 
done was to fold the pulseless hands over the stilj 
breast, and close the e^-es that had, perhaps (in 
their spiritual counterpart), already opened on the 
glories of another life. The shadows of evening 
settled around the house, but far more gloomy 
than they, was the pall of inconsolable grief and 
crushing agony, that fell on the torn hearts of the 
widow and her fatherless children, thus suddenly 
bereft of their earthh^ protector, whom they loved 
so dearly. 

The news of the disaster spread quickly about 
the village, and threw over all classes a gloom that 
showed how generally esteemed and respected, in 
the community. Prof. Widney was. A meeting of 
the business men and leading citizens was at once 
called, and after some deliberation, the following 
resolutions were adopted : 

The citizens of Excelsior, assembled in public meeting, do 
hereb}- give expression to their great sorrow for the sad 
accident b}' which Prof. Harvey S. Widney was so suddenh- 
called from an active and useful life in our midst. By his 
death our community has lost ^n upright and noble citizen; 
our youth an able instructor and warm friend ; the church 



15 



a zealous and devout Christian worker ; and his family a 
loving husband and father. 

Sharing in this great loss, we who have known Prof. 
Widney, during his brief but useful sojourn with us, do 
extend to the bereaved widow and fatherless children, our 
heartfelt sympathy. 

Resolved, That we also sympathise with Mr. and Mrs. 
M. M. Haines, in the loss of their daughter Lulu, beloved 
by all, whose bright j^oung life was so rudely cut off, 
with that of Prof. Widney. 

The funeral of Miss Haines took place on the fol- 
lowing day. Immediately on the death of Prof. 
Widney, telegrams had been sent to his mother and 
other relatives in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, 
and in St. Paul. Mrs. Widney, residing at St. Jo, 
Ind., and Mr. Underwood, of Adrian, at once 
.started for St. Paul. The sultry weather, however, 
compelled the burial of the remains on the after- 
noon of the 27th, before these relatives arrived. 

The Funeral Obsequies. 
At 2 o'clock, p. m., a brief service was held at 
the house, prior to removing the remains to the 
church, by Rev. Isaac L. Cory, pastor of the 
Excelsior Congregational church. It was a ver}^ 
affecting occasion. We looked for the last time, on 
earth, on that dear face, from which death had 
not even vet erased the expression of nobleness and 
love. The funeral cortege was then formed and 
proceeded to the church, which was crowded with 
the citizens of Excelsior, of all conditions and ages. 
All places of business in the village were closed. 



\ 



10 

Lovely floral tributes were laid on the cavsket by 
Prof. Widney's friends, especially b}^ the pupils of 
his academy. Appropriate selections were sung by 
the choir, among them one favorite hymn of the 
deceased, opposite to which, in his h^-mn book, he 
had some months before written the words, "Sing 
this at my funeral. H. S. W." It is as follows: 

God be with you till we meet again ; 
By his counsels guide, uphold you. 
With his sheep securely fold you, 
God be with you till we meet again. 

Chorus — Till we meet, till we meet, 
Till we meet at Jesus' feet; 
Till we meet, till we meet, 
God be with 3'ou till we meet again. 

God be with you till we meet again, 
'Neath his wings securely hide you, 
Daily manna still provide you, 
God be with 3'Ou till we meet again. 

God be with you till we meet again ; 
When life's perils thick confound you, 
Put his arms unfailing 'round you, 
God be with you till we meet again. 

God be with you till we meet again. 
Keep his banner floating o'er j^ou ; 
Smite death's threatening wave before you, 
God be with you till wc meet again. 

Tribute by His Pastor. 
Rev. Isaac L. Cory then delivered a very touch- 
ing and impressive tribute to the deceased, which, 
though brief, gave in a thorough manner an excel- 



17 

lent view of Prof. Widnej's virtues and attain- 
ments, and a fine testimonial to his exalted char- 
acter. He read a number of texts of Scripture 
which w^ere written on cards found in the pocket 
of Prof. Widney after his death. They had evi- 
dently been written to send to some acquaintance 
who was in need of religious advice or sympathy, 
as he was much in the habit of doing this. 

Rev. J. G. Teter, of the Excelsior M. E. church, 
who had been present at the disaster, paid a very 
warm tribute to Prof. Widney's character as an 
instructor, and also as a christian clergyman, and 
referred to the incidents of his death, praising the 
bravery and devotion of the young men who had 
risked their lives to save Prof. Widney and his 
» companions. 

Eulogy by D. C. Bell, Esq. 

Mr. David C. Bell, of Minneapolis, president of 
the board of trustees of the Excelsior Academy, was 
then introduced, and read the following eulogy on 
Prof. Widney: 

" Dear Friends : Our village is in mourning to-day. We 
are assembled here this afternoon, a sorrowful compan3% to 
pay our tribute of respect and affection to the memory of a 
noble and beloved man. God distributes his gifts variously. 
To one He seems to give the power to accumulate wealth in 
a marked degree— more than his fellows. To another He 
gives the power to lead and control others: of such we say 
' he was born to command.' To others, again, He gives the 
power to acquire stores of knowledge; these are the learned 
and wise among men. Higher and better than all or auv 



18 

of these various gifts, either singly or in combination, is the 
gift, so rare and so precious — to win men's hearts. Happy 
the man of wealth and power and of learning, if he use them 
aright ; but thrice happy that man to whom the hearts of 
men go out in aftectionate regard. Such was our brother, 
beloved, whose loss we mourn to-day. Cultivated he was 
in mind and heart ; a peer of the best ; able with voice and 
pen; a wise, skillful and successful instructor; an effective 
and faithful preacher of the gospel of God's grace, but above 
all a sweet-spirited. Christian man, whom to know was to 
respect not only, but to love. This is why our hearts ache, 
and our eyes fill, and we cannot speak, as we remember his 
walk among us these months past, and try to realize that 
Prof Widney will be seen amongst us no more forever. But 
his memorial will be fresh in ovir hearts as the years come 
and go. Better than inscription on marble or brass will be 
the memory of his noble personality and the sacred and sav- 
ing truths taught by his lips and life, and written on the 
hearts of the pupils who came under his gracious. Christian 
influence. In waj^s that they themselves do not know, he 
will continue to teach and preach through them, and thus 
perpetuate his noble life in scores of other lives whom he 
has stimulated by precept and example, to go out and bless 
yet others. His circling and ever widening influence will 
extend on and on from this center, where he lived and 
labored, to remote places and far-t)ff generations. 

"Dear friends, let us, as we mourn our great loss to-day, 
learn the secret of a successful life. God's word declares, 
and all history and experience of men confirms, the great 
truth, that 'No man liveth unto himself, and no man dieth 
unto himself.' This dearly beloved brother neither lived nor 
died unto himself. One of the proudest monuments that 
stands in England to-day, rises over the grave of John 
Howard, and bears this inscription: ' He lived for others.' 
In the same large and worthy sense, Harvej^ S. Widney lived 
for others. 

"Sometimes the heart of a man, his real purpose, comes 
out in an expression drojjpcd in conversation, or penned in a 



19 

sentence in a friendly letter. Such I find in a letter received 
from Prof Widney not many weeks ago, written just at the 
close of the academy year. 

" Excelsior, June 11, 1887. 
"I thank you very much for your kind and encouraging 
words as to our past year's work. I sincerely pray God 
that his blessing, ' which maketh rich, and he addeth no sor- 
row with it,' may be given to us. I fully realize 'except 
the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.' 
My main purpose in this work is the Christian training of 
our pupils, fitting them for Christian activity." 

" Here is the happy secret of this lovely life, the going out 
of which leaves not only a desolate home, bereft of husband 
and father, to whom nought seems left to-day but the sure 
promise of the God of the widow and fatherless, that never 
fails, but a sorrow-stricken and bereaved community, and 
an institution of Christian learning without a head. 
"Over again comes to us all, this lesson : Nothing in this 
*world pays so well as to do good in a Christian way to 
others. Such a life alone can be truly said to pay ; such only 
is in any worthy sense a success. Men bring to it their 
cnoicest tributes, and God and angels bestow on it their 
gracious benedictions. 

" I knew Prof Widney less intimately than many of you, 
his neighbors and friends here present to-day with such a 
weight of sorrow on your hearts, but I knew him well 
enough to have caught his spirit and to have given to him 
the tribute of my respect and love. 

"He was a citizen of two worlds. While he walked 
among men here in the beauty of holiness, adorning the 
doctrine of God our Savior, his citizenship was in heaven, 
whence he has been just now translated. 

"So let us dry our tears and comfort our hearts to-day, 
as we remember the grace of God which he owned, and by 
which he was redeemed, as we think of the unfading joys 
upon which his glorified spirit has even now entered, where 
he shall be forever with the Lord." 



20 

During the entire services, sincere grief was visible 
on every countenance, and a gloom appeared to 
rest on all, in remembrance of the calamity that 
had deprived Excelsior of one of its most beloved 
and useful citizens. This general sorrow was one 
of the best tributes to his memory. 

At the conclusion of the services the remains were 
taken to Oak Lake cemeter^^ follow^ed b}^ a large 
number of friends, where all that was mortal of 
the noble and true Harvey S. Widney was laid to 
rest. 

Prof. Widney, at his death, left three children. 
Hallie, aged about fourteen years ; Eddie, aged 
about eight years, and Beth, aged about tw^o years. 
With commendable foresight he had secured for his 
famil}^ a fair amount of insurance on his life. 

MEMORIAL SERVICES. 

AT EXCELSIOR, MINN. 

Memorial services in honor of Prof. Widney were 
held in the Congregational church, in Excelsior, on 
Sunday, Aug. 28. Rev. Isaac L. Cor^^ preached a 
sermon appropriate to the occasion, from the text, 
"Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright 
man," &c. The discourse was an eulogy of the 
deceased, and recounted his worth, and his valuable 
labors as a minister and instructor. The occasion 
was impressive and solemn. 

AT LA HAKPE, ILL. 

On Friday, Sept. 4, memorial services were held 



21 

in the Methodist Protestant church, at La Harpe. 
An account pubHshed in the La Harper, says, that 
almost the entire communit\^ were present. The 
church was tastefully draped and decorated with 
a profusion of flowers. All the clergy of the town 
occupied seats on the platform, and several of them 
took part in the religious exercises. Rev. V. H. 
Brown delivered the memorial address, from the 
text: "Mark the perfect man," &c. It was a fitting 
tribute to the attainments, the virtues, and the 
services of Prof. Widney. Rev. Messrs. Littleton 
and Raymond also added testimonies to his worth, 
and to the nobility of his Christian life. Rev. J. P. 
Kester gave some interesting incidents of Prof 
*Widney's younger life. Rev. Mr. Dickerson spoke 
of the grand work he had done in La Harpe 
churches and schools. The entire services were of 
great interest, and were a worthy and fitting 
tribute to the good man in whose honor they were 
held, but were of too great length to include in 
this memorial in full. 

Resolutions of respect to Prof Widney's memory, 
and of sympathy with his bereaved family were 
passed by the Congregational church at La Harpe 
to which he had ministered some time ; by the class 
of '86, of Gifting Seminary ; by the Yoke Fellows 
Band, La Harpe; by the Pro-Con Literary Societ}' 
of the Seminary; by the Hawthorne Society; and 
by the Board of Trustees of Gittings Seminary ; and 
also of the Excelsior Academv. 



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North Illinois Conference, M. P. Church. 

During the annual session of this body, held at 
Cuba, 111., September 14 to 19, 1887, memorial 
services were held in honor of Prof. Widney, who 
had once been a member of it. Rev. W. W. Tipton 
preached the memorial sermon. 

A memorial sermon was also preached in the 
church at Ohio, 111., of w^hich Prof. Widnej^ was 
formerly pastor, on September 11, by Rev. J. M. 
Mayall, from the text. Exodus, 33:4, "And when 
the people heard these evil tidings they mourned." 
It was a well prepared and eloquent tribute to the 
deceased, by one very intimate with him, and well 
deserves to be inserted here in full, if there were 
space to do so. 

A Pattern of Christian Manliness. 

Harvey S. Widney was a man who was cast in an 
exceptional^ admirable mould. His character was 
symmetrical and w^ell rounded, and complete in all 
respects. He was, indeed, a model of true Christian 
manliness. But few men have acquired such beauty 
and perfection of soul as he had attained, in many 
w^ays. He had no faults, that one could see. He had 
fewer corners and angulosities of character than any 
man I ever knew. He had undoubtedly set for himself 
in early life a high standard of perfection and had 
attained it. Endowed by nature wnth a kindly and 
amiable disposition, his heart was further made 



23 

loving and s^^mpathetic b\' his ardent sjDiritnal feel- 
ings. Early dedicating himself to the service of God, 
with all the earnestness of his warm temperament, 
he was ever afterward a consistent and devout fol- 
lower of Him whose child he professed to be. His 
warm, constant and unfeigned piety, was a promi- 
nent feature of Prof. Widney's daily life. He lived 
his religion in all times and circumstances. He was 
trulj^ what St. Paul calls a living "epistle, known 
and read of all men." His religion had a fragrance 
and beauty that is seldom seen. Its aroma was a 
source of jo}^ to those around him. He impressed 
even the irreligious and skeptical. A writer in The 
La Harper, in the account of his memorial services 
said: "He won the regard of those who have no 
respect for churchmen. They saw in this faithful, 
sweet-spirited man the ideal Christian. They felt 
the influence of his better life, and looked up to 
him." Prof. Widney was emphatically a man of 
prayer, a devout seeker after holiness. In one of 
his very last letters (to a lady in La Harpe) he 
wrote, "I never had such a hunger and thirst after 
righteousness as I have now." And again, "I want 
my life, whether teacher or preacher, to be full of 
power for God's cause. Nothing else will content 
me, and I am determined to seek and to find. I 
know I am on the right track of an enlarged, 
ennobled and enriched life." [These last words were 
almost prophetic] His knowledge of the Scriptures 
was remarkable. It was his daily study. "In His 



24 

law did he meditate day and night." He always 
quoted it with the most timely appropriateness, to 
those needing counsel or encouragement. 

Conscientious, just, scrupulous of the rights of 
others, he lived a life blameless and unstained by 
any sin, enjoying the world, but living for heaven. 
He loved the church and was loyal to it. He 
gloried in the Cross of Christ. Always foremost in 
the prayer-meeting, the Sabbath school and the 
Sunday services, his devotion to duty and principle 
was a marked characteristic. There was no duty, 
however hard, that he would shrink from or evade. 
And he was not the least bigoted in his devotion 
to the church, but was broad and catholic in his 
views. Rev. J. M. Mayall, in his memorial sermon 
on Prof. Widney, says that the latter once said to 
him, "I do not feel bound to think like any man, 
any farther than he thinks like the Bible. I am to 
be governed in my opinion and conduct by mj^ own 
reasoning and by Scripture. I am to make up my 
own opinion independently, as far as possible, of 
the whole world. I shall try to be bound by noth- 
ing but truth, and to throw off all the shackles of 
falsehood and prejudice." I believe that Prof. Wid- 
ney did not make any conspicuous professions, for 
he was too modest and sensitive to do this, but 
his close communion with his Master, and his pure, 
upright walk, told more than mere words the depth 
of his earnestness, and it was this, perhaps, more 
than an}' other thing, which gave him his remark- 



able influence. That influence on his associates 
could not but be elevating. The writer of this 
sketch, for one. can truly say that he is a purer 
and better man from his intercourse with Prof. 
Widney. 

His amiable, social nature was another marked 
characteristic. His disposition was sunny, cheerful, 
buoyant, and even playful. He had a deep vein of 
genuine humor. He was a most entertaining com- 
panion, always ready for any social enjoyment, 
always abounding in jokes and puns, many of them 
showing the finest and subtlest wit, the real 'Attic 
Salt." His conversation was sparkling with 
brilliant expressions, spontaneous and unstudied. 
He had read so much, and his memorv was so 
'tenacious, and so stored with valuable information, 
that it was a real pleasure and instruction to hear 
him converse. His personal magnetism was remark- 
able, and accounts for much of his popularity. The 
very tones of his voice, musical and kindly, insen- 
sibly won others to him. He had the most 
engaging and easy manners, and cultivated tastes. 
His personal appearance, too. was of a kind to 
attract others. His noble and imperial nature, erect 
lorm, animated countenance, kindly eve. lofty brow, 
and cordial manner, all revealed the honest, gener- 
ous, pure-minded, loving soul within. There was 
no dissembling or concealment about him. Frank- 
ness and sincerity were leading characteristics, 
while his lack of the element of suspicion of others, 
very often led him to be imposed on. 



20 

He was Jis modest and shrinking as a woman, 
yet underneath this quiet and calm exterior he h<'id 
the heart of a lion, and no one was ever more 
courageous and firm in the support of" right. Fre- 
quently his strong opposition to the saloon element 
drew upon him threats of vengeance, but he never 
swerved from his purpose. Always self-denying and 
careless of his own gain, in a noble spirit of altruism, 
his main thought seemed to be to make others 
happy, and he would cheerfully sacrifice himself for 
this purpose. He was tenderly considerate of 
others' feelings, and had a keen sympathy with any 
form of sorrow or suffering. He was always mind- 
ful of the little kindnesses of life. Yet, though 
courageous and light hearted, he had his trials too, 
but always refrained from wearying others by 
exposing them, and endured them in quiet. Always 
patient and serene, his calmness and equanimity 
were never ruffled by passion. His self control was 
one conspicuous trait. 

His industry was another of the ]jromincnt mer- 
its of Prof. Widney. Whatever his hands found to 
do, he did with all his energy. He was always 
engaged at something useful. No time was lost or 
misspent ; odd moments and half-hours were all util- 
ized in a systematic manner. He was always either 
working, studying, teaching, conducting meetings, 
or praying. In fact, he often overdid his strength, 
and his friends were com])ellc(l to chide him for it. 
Forgetting himself always, he would cheer and 



encourage others, when he himseh' was fainting or 
depressed. He was a hard student, and all his 
books (annotated by his hand) show careful study 
and intelligent use. His eagerness for self-culture, 
never relaxed from his boyhood. He learned easilv 
and quickly. His mind seemed to look through 
ever}- subject at a glance. 

Harvey S. Widney may indeed be said to have 
been a man true to all the obligations of life. He 
was a dutiful son, a loyal friend, an affectionate 
husband, a kind parent, an earnest Christian, an 
upright citizen, a conscientious pastor, a faithful 
instructor. Cut off untimely as he was, his works 
do live after him. His influence and the good 
results of his teachings will yet bear fruit, and many 
will, in the life to come, thank Harvey S. Widney 
for the noble example of uprightness which he gave 
them, and for his good advice. His memory will 
long be enshrined in our hearts. 



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